Pulpwood boxcar unloader



Oct. 13, 1953 v c THOMPSON 2,655,275

PULPWOOD BOXCAR UNLOADER Filed June 6, 1951. '4 Sheet s-Sheet 1 4 INVENTOR.

CANEY ,4. THOMPSON.

BY p

AGE/v7.

Oct. 13, 1953 c. A. THOMPSON PULPWOOD BOXCAR UNLOADER Filed June 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w my me CA/YEY A. 7740MPsaM Z AGE/V7.-

Oct. 13, 1953 c. A. THOMPSON PULPWOOD BOXCAR UNLOADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 6, 1951 INVENTOR. Czwsr A. THOMPSON.

AGENT aooae'it 3 times around a driving drum I8 driven by suitable motor and gear reduction means generally indicated at 28.

The secondary cradle B comprises an open platform 22 having a pair of spaced segmented gears 24, 24 depending therefrom and respectively meshing with a pair of pinions 26, 26. The cradle B may be tilted to one side only, to the left as shown in Fig. 2, about a longitudinal axis 28 by suitable motor and gear reduction means generally indicated at 38. The secondary cradle B is pivotally attached to the primary cradle A through a plurality of hinges 32 located along the axis 28 and attached to the respective openplatforms In and 22. An I-beam 33 is secured to a height slightly above the motor 6-6. A horizontal roller 11 extends between the two vertical posts and supports the weight of the outer or unsupported portion of the baffle F when the baf-' fie is withdrawn as shown in Fig. 4.

A narrow rectangular cage is formed within the primary baille carriage and is defined by four vertical posts '18 extending up from the primary carriage base (see Fig. 3), the cage forming a housing for the secondary bafiie carriage. The housing is centered transversely in the primary carriage but extends thereabove (Fig. 5). A sup- ..front to the rear vertical post on both sides.

the primary platform ID as shown in Fig. 2 so that the edge of the secondary platform 22 rests levelly on the I-beam when the secondary plat:

form is in its non-tilted position.

The open platform 22 is provided with steel rails 34, 34 so arranged that a box car may be moved easily on and off the unloader. A pair of end clamps 36, 36 are provided in the open platform to clamp and center the box car. Said clamps are operated by a motor 38 which may be wired to cut off automatically when the car is secured by the clamps and centered. A long shaft 39 is operably connected to the motor and driven porting beam 88 extends horizontally from the A top guide beam 82 extends the length of the housing and is firmly secured between the tops of the i respective front and rear pairs of vertical posts thereby. Each end of the shaft is threadably engaged with one of the end clamps.

A plurality of spaced parallel flanged beams 48 extend laterally from one side of the open platform 22 and carry the box car bracing. The flanged beams 48 are braced by beams 42 extending from the outer ends thereof to a depending portion of the secondary cradle B to prevent sagging. A box-like frame 44 is slidably carried by each beam 48 and can be moved in or out by a motor 46 through a shaft 48 threadably engaged in a fitting 58 attached to the frame 44. It should be noted that the motor 46 is located on the opposite side of the open platform 22. Each frame 44 has rigidly mounted thereon a vertically disposed beam 52 braced by a beam 54. One or more of the beams 52 may be provided with a limit switch 56 near the top. The beams 52 are of such a height that their upper end are slightly below the top of the box car. The limit switches '56 are adapted to automatically stop the motors 46 when the beams 52 have been moved flush against the side of the box car.

A pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed supporting beams 58, 53 extend laterally from the open platform 22 and are located on the side opposite the box car braces 52. A beam 59 extends between the outer ends of the beams 58 and is rigidly attached thereto. A plurality of bracing beams 68 extend between the outer ends of the beams 58 and a depending portion of the sec ondary cradle B to prevent sagging.

The primary baflie carriage is formed from a framework of beams 62 and is mounted on a plurality of trolleys 64 which roll on the supporting beams 58. The primary carriage is moved along the supporting beams by a motor drive coupled to one end of a long threaded shaft 68 threadably engaged in a fitting 10 attached to the primary carriage. The motor 66 is mounted on a platform I2 built on the supporting beams 58, and the other end of the threaded shaft 68 is joumalled in a bearing 13 provided at the center of a cross-beam 14 of a bearing stand including vertical and angular legs 16. Immediately adjacent the platform 12 a pair of vertical posts 15 rise from the respectivesupporting beams 58 to,

18. A bottom guide beam 84 runs parallel to the top guide beam 82 and is located immediately above the threaded shaft 68 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The bottom guide beam is also fastened between the respective front and rear pairs of vertical posts 18.

The secondary baflle carriage E is movably carried by a plurality of bottom rollers 86 and top rollers 88v which respectively are engaged with the bottom and top guide beams 84 and 82. The secondary baffle carriage is formed of a bottom horizontal beam 98 from which the lower rollers 86 depend, a rear vertical beam 92, a front vertical beam 94, and a top horizontal beam from which the rollers 88 extend. These four beams form a rectangle, but with the top and bottom beams extending somewhat beyond the front beam, for reasons to be explained hereinafter. In front of and parallel to the front vertical beam 94 is a. rotatable steel shaft 98 which is mounted in a thrust bearing at the bottom on the beam 98 and in a babbitted collar bearing 182 at the top within the beam 96. A bevel gear m4 is secured to the upper projecting end of the shaft 98 and is positioned immediately above the top beam 96. Another bevel gear I06 is attached to the shaft III! of a motor 108 mounted on the projecting end of the beam 96 and meshed with the gear I04 to drive the shaft 98. The lower portion of the shaft 93 is provided with heavy jack screw threads H2. A collar H4 is threadably carried on the threads H2 of the shaft. The collar is provided with an arm I it which is slidably connected to a small rod rigidly mounted outwardly of the beam 94 so that the collar H5 is permitted to move in a vertical plane but cannot rotate. Thus when the shaft 98 is rotated the collar H6 moves up or down, depending on the direction of shaft rotation.

The bafile F is formed from a framework of I- beams I28 which are covered by steel plates I22 to form a wedge as shown in Fig. 8. A plurality of slanting, protruding ribs I24 are attached to both outer surfaces of the bafiie except for about 2 feet adjacent the outer end for reasons which will be explained hereinafter. The inner end of the baffie is welded to a heavy pipe or sleeve I26 having a diameter such that it can pivot freely about the shaft 98 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. p v

The outer end of the bafile is. provided with an automatic leveling device as shown in Fig. 9 so that in operation the lower edge of the bafile 'will be positioned in a plane slightly higher than swore noid 138 having a plunger 1- is secured within the heme above the iimit'switeh l3! and is core nected to the sensing arm #2 8 "throughcord and pulley connections- IM and- I-H' to retract the sensingarm into the haflle alter a leveling operation has been completed. The limit. switch is connected by suitable wiring snot shown) to the motor I and to the solenoid NW.

The bailie is reciprocated by a motor I; through a right angle gear reduction unit N8 of variable speed. The rotary motion of the motor is converted to the reciprocating motion ofthe hafile by means of a crank 1'50 and a connecting link I52 as shown in Figs 8, and 6. The crank shat-t is providedwith ally wheel 54". The connecting Ii! is ottlalehetl to the crank by means of a removable pin "6 which may be placed in any one oi a plurality of agaertures I58 in the crank to vary the length of the battle stroke. The connecting link "is loifurc'ated at the outer end and is provided with a removable wrist pin IN by which it is attached to a lug I62. The lug is provided with an aperture I64 for the wrist pin 1 60' endis welded-or otherwise secured to the front vertical beam 9!.

In operation the hex car '0 is onto the open platform 22 and centered and locked by the end clamps S6; 8% through of the motor 3'8. The motors- 4B are than onesgized, rotating the threaded shorts we, thus drawing the side bracing along the beams- Ml until the vertical laeams 32- are stopped flush against the side of the box carhy means of the limit switches 56. With the brac'ing' in oosition the motor 30 is actuated long enough to tilla the box car transversely to a 45" angle, causing the woodstacked in the door o! the hex carto slide-out.

The proper level ofth'e heme-should he established now by means oi the automatic leveling device so that the oame'will clear the box our :floor. The sensing em'n- IR is released dialling -to the edge ofthe tl'oor 'and the motor lllfl'rstaited, thus rotating the threaded slmi t 98 and raising the baflie; the 'bamezfises, the sensing armremains on the loot: car fioor and so moves the tripper or operating lever l fli nntil the limit switch 114 is activated which stops the motor i-"Ol and activates 'the seienotd H8, causing retraction ol'the arm into the baffle. Then motor 8.6 is started which notates the threaded shatt- R and drowsthe rprimary lo'aflle ea-r-ri'age D i orworvl'until the baille F is extended through both box doors With the baffle extended entirely through the box *car at the proper level the motor Ill-ls actuated long enough to tilt the box carlengthwise to an angle of approxl metely causlng the loathe to pivot oloou't the shaft so "that the outer end swings to the lower side mi the 'box car door. The motor 1- is activated toreciprccate the 'baflle'in short strokes. .llhe cyclic speed of the bathe imw are adjusted through the variable :speed reduction unit M8 and th'e leng-th of the stroke adjusted' toy changing-theconnedtingrod to: setting iii-crankshaft $50 as explained herel-nbe'fore. Gravity will thenthe reciprocation or the home. will deflect "and-force the logs outward. The protruding 'fibs' 124 serve a very important function. fll'ie ribs tend lac-raise the legs as well as vforce them outward which serves to the oi?- logs 5am and damage to the box cars. It has been found that a smooth ballle, either stationary or oscillating; will network satisfactorily. Itthe protruding were placed at right. angles to the lower edge of the baffle numerous jams occurred. Through experimentation it was found that themost kem'cient rib angle was from the horizontal-or lower edge of the home, pointing down toward the outer end of the-came. Aspointed out herelnbefore, baffle is hare of ribs :for approximately two feet at the, outer end. "this: enables the home to move back and: forth over theater door racing of the box car without-immunizing. the same. when the high end of the box car has been emptied the car is tilted lengthwise: to reverse. the high and low ends. The battle pivots freely to; the other side of the door, and the same unloading procedure is followed until the box car is "emptied. I

After the car has been enrolled it tilted back to the level position. Thcha meris removed by motor 68 through tlmeade'd shaft Ma The vertical beams 52' are. moved away from. the side of the. car by motor through threaded shaft The end clamps 36, 36 unlocked. rh metor 38 and removed and the. car is mulled oil the platform so. that another car may he pulled on.

A box car imloader has thus. been developed that will handle pulpwoodmid such other prod-- ucts as do not fall into fireeefiowing class oi goods. :Pulp mills always voluminous amounts of pulpwood always causes :a high cost handling :openationrin the wood yard if unloading can be manually elfected.

Thus it will be the invention herein disclosed provides a. box car runloader which can be successfully with .pulprwood and other momfree-ifiowlng materials, wherein the hex car se'cm ely loraccd',-rtllted transversely and lengthwise and lprowided with :a reciprocating frioloed bafile extmded ltmmnghzthe eject the 'pulpwood.

It of course, to be understood thatwarious details of arrangement, proportions :of :parts and sequence oi events may rbe modified the scope ofctheappemled claims.

I claim:

In- :a pulpwood :bowcarmxloa-der ofithe char-- acter described, .a plurality of laterally :pmieeting supporting beams, a primary rbafiie carriage movably mounted on :said supporting iheams;

means; to. more :nectilm early m pr-imamy zriage, :a. secondary be-me carriage unoxzably carried 'within :said iprlmary carriage, 1a :baflle mountedxm"saldisecondary carriageymeans toad- .just, the.-.='height:of said bame relative to car- ;riage, lmeanstofreciprocate :said Iloafile and secondary marriage, said blame lacing provided un both $8083 with a mlurality "or singularly disposed uei'bspsaid rifos each heingoositiorred-at a 40 angle .from the horizontal and :pointing downwardly toward the outer of said baflle.

'22. In a*pulpwood boxoarunloaderof theeharaoter'described, a plurality-of laterally projecting :supportlng beams, a "primalyballle oarriagemovafily'moun ted -on saiid supportmg'laeams, means to lrectil mea rly move said qorinrai y marriage, a' secamuse, :the, lags mor ifihe bum and .7 ondary?meoawiagamovably carfledrwmimscid -a,csc,275

primary carriage, a vertically disposed shaft ro- 'movement of said baflle along said shaft, means to reciprocate said secondary carriage and said baflie, and means to change the stroke of reciprocation of said secondary carriage and said baffle.

3. In a pulpwood box car unloader of the character described, a plurality of laterally projecting supporting beams, a primary 'baflle carriage movably mounted on said supporting beams, means to rectilinearly move said primary carriage, a secondary bafiie carriage movably carried within said primary carriage, a vertically disposed shaft rotatably mounted on said secondary carriage, a baflie mounted on said shaft for axial movement with respect thereto, vmeans for effecting axial movement of said bafile along said shaft, means to reciprocate said secondary carriage and said baffle, means to change the stroke of reciprocation of said secondary carriage and said baflie, and means to change the speed of recipocation of said secondary carriage and said bafiie.

4. In a pulpwood box car unloader of the character described, a plurality of laterally projecting supporting beams, a primary baflle carriage movably mounted on said supporting beams, means to rectilinearly move said primary carriage, a secondary bafiie carriage movably carried within said primary carriage, a vertically disposed shaft rotatably mounted on said secondary carriage, a baflie mounted on said shaft for axial movement with respect thereto, means for effecting axial movement of said baffle along said shaft, means to reciprocate said secondary carriage and said baflie, and means to change the stroke of reciprocation of said secondary carriage and said baflie, said bafile being provided on both faces with a plurality of angularly disposed ribs.

5. In a pulpwood box car unloader of the character described, a plurality of laterally projecting supporting beams, a primary baflie carriage movably mounted on said supporting beams, means to rectilinearly move said primary carriage, a

secondary baiile carriage movably carried within -said primary carriage, a vertically disposed shaft rotatably mounted in said secondary carriage, a baffle mounted on said shaft for axial movement with respect thereto, means for effecting axial movement of said baflle along said shaft, means to reciprocate said secondary carriage and said baffle, means to change the stroke of reciprocation of said secondary carriage and said baffie, said baiiie being provided on both faces with a plurality of angularly disposed ribs, and means to change the speed of reciprocation of said secondary carriage and said bafile.

6. In a pulpwood box car unloader of the character described, a plurality of laterally projecting supporting beams, a primary baflle carriage movably mounted on said supporting beams, means to rectilinearly move said primary carriage, a secondary baffle carriage movably carried within said primary carriage, a vertically disposed shaft rotatably mounted on said secondary carriage, a baffle mounted on said shaft for axial movement with respect thereto, means for effecting axial movement of said bafiie along said shaft, means to reciprocate said secondary carriage and said baffle, and means to change the stroke of reciprocation of said secondary carriage and said baffle, said baflle being provided on both faces with a plurality of angularly disposed ribs, said ribs each j Jpeing positioned at fa 40 angle from the horizon- ;ta1 and pointing downwardly toward the outer .endof saidbaflle. i

7. In a pulpwood box car unloader of the character described,a plurality of laterally projecting supporting beams, a primary baflie carriage movably mounted on said supporting beams,

.means to rectilinearly move said primary carriage, a secondary baiiie carriage movably carried within said primary carriage, a vertically disposed shaft rotatably mounted in said secondary carriage, a bafile mounted on said shaft for axial movement with respect thereto, means for effecting axial movement of said baflie along said shaft, means to reciprocate said secondary carriage and said baflie, means to change the stroke of reciprocation of said secondary carriage and said vbaiile, and means to change the speed of reciprocation of said secondary carriage and said bafile, said baffle being provided on both faces with a plurality of angularly disposed ribs, said ribs each being positioned at a 40 angle from the horizontal edge and pointing downwardly toward the outer end of said baffle.

8. In a pulpwood box car unloader of the type wherein is provided a primary cradle tiltable about a transverse axis, a secondary cradle pivotally attached to said primary cradle and tiltable about a longitudinal axis with respect thereto, car-carrying rails secured to the upper face of said secondary cradle, means for clamping a box car on said rails, means to tilt said primary cradle and means to tilt said secondary cradle; the combination of a primary carriage mounted on said secondary cradle adjacent said box car to be unloaded, means to move said primary car- .riage into or away from said box car, a secondary box car on said rails, means to tilt said primary cradle and means to tilt said secondary cradle;

the combination or a primary carriage mounted on said secondary cradle adjacent said box car to be unloaded, means to move said primary carriage into or away from said box car, a secondary carriage movably carried within said primary carriage, a ribbed baflie extending from said secondary carriage, means to reciprocate said baffle 1 and secondary carriage, means to vary the speed of reciprocation of said bafiie and secondary carriage, and means to vary the stroke of said baflie and secondary carriage. i

10. In a pulpwood box car unloader of the type wherein is provided a primary cradle tiltable about a transverse axis, a secondary cradle pivotally'attached to said primary cradle and tiltable about a longitudinal axis with respect thereto, car carrying rails secured to the upper face of said secondary cradle, means for clamping a box car on said rails, means to tilt said primary cradle and means to tilt said secondary cradle;

the combination of a primary carriage mounted on said secondary cradle adjacent said box car to be unloaded,means to move said primary carriage into or away from said box car, a second- "ary carriage movably carried within said primary carriage, a ribbed baffle extending from said secondary carriage, means to reciprocate said baflle and secondary carriage, and means to vertically adjust the height of said baffle relative to said carriages.

11. Wood ejecting means for a pulpwood box car unloader having a loaded box car secured thereon and comprising a primary carriage located adjacent the box car and movable laterally with respect thereto, a secondary carriage reciprocably mounted on said primary carriage, a ribbed baiiie extending from said secondary carriage, means to move said primary and secondary carriages and said baflie bodily toward or away from the box car, and means to reciprocate said secondary carriage and baflle with respect to said primary carriage.

CANEY A. THOMPSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

